Permaculture at Hundred Fruit Farm

On Saturday, August 14, a group from Altair had the pleasure of visiting Hundred Fruit Farm in Buckingham, PA to explore the world of Permaculture and start thinking about how to incorporate it into Altair’s landscape design. We were lucky the weather was perfect for being outside and walking around the farm as we discovered all the edible plant possibilities.

Adam Dunsen has spent many years learning about organic farming and permaculture, teaching and managing farms before he and his family founded Hundred Fruit Farm in 2015.  Adam manages the farm and does permaculture landscape design for clients in the mid Atlantic area.  His enthusiasm about permaculture was obvious as he talked about the farm.  

We started with berries.  Adam does a lot of experimenting on the farm to discover the environmental needs for each type of berry so he can recommend the type that will thrive in this area.  He takes into account the type of soil needed, the critters that harm the plant and when they typically arrive, when the fruit is produced in addition to the usual things like sun, water and temperature.  He selects the plants that he feels will grow the best with the least amount of attention.  Irrigation is not needed in the farm area because the plants he has growing were selected because of their draught tolerance.  Even with the hot dry summer this year Adam said they only spent a few hours once during this hot dry summer watering the bushes and that was it.

Next we talked about the fruit and nut trees and Adam explained that the trees that nurseries sell are not necessarily those that grow the best in our area.  He had many suggestions of other types of fruit that will successfully in our environment such as Nanking cherries and  Paw Paws.  I was surprised that he does not always recommend the native varieties - his goal is to find the plants for the environment in which they will be planted. He talked about his experiments with pears and showed us a pear tree with about 12 different varieties of pears that he grafted to the tree!

Next were the nut trees.  In addition to suggestions for the kinds of nuts that grow the best in this area, he also talked about the type of area in the landscape that would be good for the different trees. For example,  we need to consider that the nuts fall off the tree so would we want the nut trees near the street.  We also have to remember that the birds and other critters will want to eat their share of what is growing so we need to be sure there is enough to share.  

A big part of the upkeep of the farm is done by the adorable Olde English (Babydoll) Southdown sheep that eat the grass and provide natural fertilizer.  Just put them in the grassy area that needs mowing and the sheep happily go to work.  They intentionally have the babydoll sheep, not just for the great name but also because they’re small and cannot reach high enough to eat the trees (although they do protect the new trees until the bark hardens ).  They have about 26 sheep taking care of the 10 acre farm.  Per Adam, they should have more sheep for a farm their size so traditional mowing is also needed at times. Unfortunately, they were piled up in the shade snoozing during our visit so we didn’t get a good look at them but Mary scored two big bags of their wool.  They sell the babies but they DO NOT eat the sheep (they’re way too cute to eat).  I’m sure if you see the sheep you’ll agree we need a couple at Altair.

Once we toured the farm area we headed to the landscaped area around the houses and saw their personal edible garden.  I was amazed that there were so many plants in a small area planted with each plant’s needs in mind.  They use wild strawberries as ground cover to help prevent weeds and these areas needed very little maintenance during the summer.  Imagine walking out your back door and picking herbs from the garden to cook and wandering around the community picking berries for a little snack.  

There’s a beautiful vegetable garden behind the main house.  Since the vegetable garden was gently sloped, Adam terraced the area using stones found on the property.  This exhibits a basic permaculture practice - no waste, use everything.  To top it all off they also have a green house, chickens, and they grow mushrooms in a little wooded area. 

Learning about permaculture, seeing the farm and the plants around the houses was very interesting.  I wish I knew about this 20 years ago when was making landscaping decisions for my house.  I’m also glad I know about it now and that we at Altair have a nearby resource to help us make the best landscaping choices for our community. It’s so exciting to think about living in a community surrounded by edible plants that will be shared by the resident humans and wildlife.  To learn more about Permaculture and Hundred Fruit Farm click HERE.

Do you want to live in an ecovillage based on cohousing?

Cohousing is an innovative residential model where private homes are clustered around shared space. Community members benefit from participatory process (including neighborhood design), common facilities, resident management, and democratic decision-making.

The term ‘ecovillage’ encompasses a wide variety of communities that are committed to the idea of living more lightly (low impact) for the sake of the planet. Many ecovillages in the US use the cohousing residential model.

And since the start of the cohousing movement thirty years ago, participants have become increasingly aware of the environmental issues that humanity is facing, So now just about all cohousing communities have embraced the interrelated ideas of ecological and social sustainability.

Our lifeways must, of course, be sustainable. The alternative implies some kind of crisis or cataclysm. The sharing aspect of cohousing fosters sustainability. The term ‘ecovillage’ embodies it directly:

* ’eco’ for the ecological aspect
* ’village’ for the social aspect

It has been wonderful to see how both the cohousing and the ecovillage movements have been resonating more and more worldwide; and how their visions of sustainability have been melding toward what the United Nations calls “best practices.” Unsurprisingly, articles about eco-living have been popping up in media of all kinds worldwide. Here’s a recent one:

https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2022/0923/1325000-ecovillages-cloughjordan-findhorn-beddington-bicester-solheimar-sekem-damanhur-sieben-linden/

Reporter Una Ruddock notes that “ecovillages provide socially, ecologically, and economically sound lifestyles.” On that basis we can be proud that our work to establish Altair Ecovillage will help model the vitally-needed pathways toward a future green and socially sane society. Our efforts, along with those of other like-minded trailblazers around the world, will create a legacy that our grandchildren will appreciate. As the article says:

“If we learn from the living laboratories that are ecovillages, we may look to the future with some hope.”

Altair conducts successful design sessions!

Member charrettes (the French word for collaborative design sessions) held during June and July resulted in general agreement about land-site and Common House designs. These have now provided auspicious (and inspiring!) visualization of what our future community will look like. Architects Tom Carnevale and Lauren Eustis facilitated both gatherings along with Land Planner Stephanie Wnuk and stormwater consultant Tom Halliwell (for the site charrette), which were held at Beaver Farm a Camphill community near the Kimberton site.

On June 25 we got to play with tiny structures! We moved them around until satisfied with the placement of the housing units on a representation of the land. We compared a "neighborhood" layout with a "linear" one with respect to our Pedestrian Walkway. We gave consideration to garden areas, recreation areas, parking areas, etc. Shading provided by trees could be gauged via moveable overhead sun-simulating illumination!

Pictures:

1. Stephanie Wnuk of Renew Design working with our model

2. John & Bob helping Dave set up the sun model

3. Site model looking west down pedestrian walkway

4. Site model looking east over solar carports

5. Common House model looking South

6. Common House model looking over East entrance

7. Common House charrette at Beaver Farm

8. Architects Tom Carneval and Lauren Eustis leading the Common House Design workshop

Then on July 16 we began the next charrette with a review of an updated version of the site plan. Project Manager Joel Bartlett asked for and received consensus agreement about it. The rest of the day focused on comparison of alternative Common House draft concept diagrams that Tom and Lauren had prepared. These were based on preferences expressed in recent Common House Circle meetings. Surprisingly, one of our elders showed us how the two concepts might blend together, and with a resounding Yes! Tom and Lauren came back with Concept #3 (see below...)

So now we can say that Altair EcoVillage is tangibly taking shape ... at least on paper, and in 3-D models ... and in our minds and in our hopes.

June 4 Integrative SITES - Part II

(Continued from last week)

At the Integrative SITES Workshop, Adam Supplee described how the communication process among professionals and stakeholders will be facilitated for the Altair project. It will utilize Google Drive, shared files, and hybrid meetings. Reports and design decisions will be logged throughout for general reference. This will enhance collaboration and also serve to document all that we’ll be accomplishing. The documentation will be submitted to USGBC to obtain our SITES credits. Next on the agenda was an introduction of some of the residential-prospective members of Altair and descriptions of the working teams (circles) they participate in—such as Community Life, the Common House, Hospitality, Electric Vehicles/Energy, Governance, Land/Buildings, Finance/Legal, and Healthy Living, among others. We then reviewed together with the sections of the SITES criteria in regard to performance goals…

• SITE CONTEXT: SITES specifies a number of prerequisites that must be met. One, for example, requires limiting development on farmland. Our property has not been prime farmland, but to the extent that there has been any agricultural usage of the land at all (recently hay production), we might have to obtain easements in other local agricultural areas.

• PRE-DESIGN ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING: As mentioned, SITES requires a project to use an integrative design process, i.e., extensive and ongoing collaboration and communication among professionals and stakeholders. In order to get our certification, we’ll have to document such. The recording of our Integrative SITES session will be part of that documentation, as well as reports from the Altair Development Circle. Pre-design site assessment should include things like mapping vegetation and soil protection zones, areas where we can build, areas that must be preserved, surveys of trees on the land, animal habitat, etc.

• WATER MANAGEMENT: The SITES criteria set very high standards in regard to precipitation and storm water management. The wetlands on our property must be maintained. The balance between pervious and impervious land coverage must be considered.

• SOIL AND VEGETATION LIFE-CYCLE: The criteria specify plant stewardship, control and management of invasives, optimization of biomass, and using vegetation to minimize building energy use (example: deploying deciduous trees for summer shading). Adam pointed out that a characteristic of our area of Pennsylvania is heavy clay soils, so a soil management plan, shared for consideration among all the professionals, will be critical. We’ll have to be careful to avoid over-compaction. Sara Wuerstle noted that it’s common to analyze the soil composition, and we’ll certainly be doing that—but we’ll do even more: we’ll be analyzing the soil biology—toward proactively developing a soil fertility program. The objective will be to promote systemic health without the need for chemical inputs.

• MATERIALS SELECTION: SITES emphasizes a prioritization of sustainability criteria—for the buildings, of course, but, additionally, for all aspects of the development. Joel Bartlett observed that it’s not only ecologically advisable, but it also can save us money! So we’ll be reaching out to our manufacturers and suppliers to stress the importance of employing sustainable methodologies. By doing so we can influence them toward embracing a greener orientation in general.

• HUMAN HEALTH AND WELL-BEING: Altair will be promoting healthy practices for the environment and also for the residents of our ecovillage. That means being cognizant of issues like walkability, social interaction, on-site food production, accessibility—and even our relationships with neighbors (for example: minimizing light pollution) and supporting the local economy.

• CONSTRUCTION: SITES specifies stringent guidelines in regard to sustainable construction practices. We’ll be working with the contractors to limit pollution and soil compaction. In doing so our project will become an educational process for all involved. Sara explained how and why permaculture advises that soil remediation be addressed as soon as possible after construction.

• OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE: While we do the up-front design work we’ll be needing to keep in mind how we’re going to take care of the site in perpetuity. This will require careful planning for sustainable maintenance, taking into consideration issues such as recycling/composting, smart lighting, integrative pest management, and energy usage. There’s a possibility that the deployment of solar panels on the top of the carports and on the roof of the Common House might be fully adequate to supply all the electricity needs of the ecovillage!

• EDUCATION AND PERFORMANCE MONITORING: In addition to striving for our own best practices, Altair will be proactively reaching out to the broader community. In conjunction with the township, we’ll be fostering sustainability awareness and demonstrating the efficacy of green living. By doing so Altair could become an exemplary case study. Joel noted that our promotion of the KLID ordinance will benefit the whole township and beyond. He related how Rachael Griffith, Sustainability Coordinator with the Chester County Planning Commission, has said she’ll be looking forward to alerting other municipalities about the exemplary KLID and Altair objectives.

• INNOVATION: It was suggested that Altair’s ambitions in regard to EV (Electric Vehicle) fleet management and an associated car- and ride-sharing programs could become the basis for a new SITES credit criteria. During the Q&A it was mentioned that we’ll be interested in helping the township address both vehicular and pedestrian traffic on Kimberton Road (wanting it to be as pedestrian-friendly as possible).

The morning wrapped up with a discussion of the pending SALDO (Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance) process, a presentation of the prospective site concept, an idea to apply for a PHARE (PA Housing Affordability Fund) grant, and the announcement about the public event, a “Meet and Greet” (plus site tour) on June 19.

Steve Welzer, for Altair EcoVillage

June 4 Integrative SITES Workshop

Altair EcoVillage, Kimberton, PA

Interest and attendance were high at our June 4 Integrative SITES Workshop. About twenty joined us in-person at the Centennial Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kimberton, PA (including some neighbors from properties adjoining our parcel of land) and another twenty participated via Zoom.

Project Manager Joel Bartlett conveyed that the purpose of the event was to outline how Altair is planning to achieve its goal of meriting a Silver Rating according to the criteria of the US Green Building Council (USGBC)’s Sustainable SITES Initiative. Also, the East Pikeland Township’s KLID (Kimberton Low-Impact Development) ordinance requires a proposed development to host a public meeting.

Landscape Architect Adam Supplee facilitated the event. In his introduction he mentioned that our project will model environmental best practices and likely put Kimberton and East Pikeland Township on the map as leaders in promoting low impact development. And it will be a priority for Altair to be fully integrated into the walkable village of Kimberton.

Obtaining a USGBC Silver Rating involves gaining credits according to sustainability objectives specified by the SITES rating system. The fact that the township’s KLID ordinance has considerable overlap with the SITES criteria is an indication of the exemplary features of the ordinance. Altair is proud of its role in helping to formulate the ordinance; it will be beneficial for the whole township and, if emulated as expected, will be beneficial for the county, state, and beyond.

As the gathering viewed slides of the dimensions and contours of the property, Adam stressed that good design requires a thorough understanding of the site. In fact, comprehensive up-front analysis is a key part of the SITES methodology. Toward that end it will be Altair’s intention to have all the professionals and stakeholders collaborate from the earliest stages of the project. Such an “integrative design process” is a SITES prerequisite.

With that in mind, after giving a brief history of the project, Joel proceeded to introduce a number of the professionals who will be collaborating during design and implementation:

* Architects Tom Carnevale and Lauren Eustis (both LEED Accredited Professionals) emphasized how they strive to include green building practices in all of their projects. Their prior work has included several buildings in the Camphill Villages in Kimberton and Glenmoore. They will be leading our Common House Design workshop in July.

* Jon Jensen, Sustainability Director at MaGrann Associates, described how his firm will be handling the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design. He said a priority will be to make sure the homes are compliant with PHIUS (Passive House Institute, US) standards.

Click to see Stephanie’s Video presentation

* Land Planner Stephanie Wnuk of RENEW Design addressed the gathering via video. She will be coordinating aspects of landscape design, traffic impact, fiscal impact, and surveying. One of her projects will be to map the existing natural aspects of the land re: delineation of wetlands, identification of plant communities and soils, etc. in order to facilitate usage of native plants, deployment of trees, stormwater management, and minimization of erosion. Stephanie will be leading our Site Design Workshop on June 25.

* Tom Halliwell (PE, LEED-AP), a principal at Grist, will be focusing on stormwater issues. Grist specializes in sustainable stormwater management and green infrastructure design.

* Mark Gallagher, a restoration ecologist and vice president of Princeton Hydro, will be providing Altair with bird and wildlife expertise.

* Permaculturist Sara Wuerstle brings to our project a highly integrated understanding of regenerative land development. She has extensive experience with the SITES initiative and has lived in a number of intentional communities. She said, “I am most inspired when people savor the nutritious, delicious, and beautiful food that comes from a healthy ecosystem.”

* Bill Grothmann gave an overview of why Blueprint Robotics (B.R., located in Baltimore) is a leader in the new industry of offsite building systems manufacture. Their state-of-the-art technology enables a production process that conforms to passive-house standards at the highest level. The expectation is that during 2023 Blueprint Robotics will be a sub-contractor of our general contractor, but they are already helping with pre-construction planning. Of interest is that Blueprint will also be producing the units for the Rachel Carson EcoVillage project. The latter, in western PA, is several months ahead of us in regard to the development process, which means that B.R. will be able to bring additional value to Altair based on lessons learned from the Rachel Carson project.

* Dan Donatelli, President and Chief Operating Officer at C. Raymond Davis & Sons, will serve as our construction manager. It will be beneficial to Altair that most of their staff are LEED AP’s and the firm is located in Kimberton, a stone’s throw from our site. Dan said he will be focusing on keeping costs down and on minimizing pollution during the construction process.

To be continued in Part II…

Integrative SITES Workshop

Goals related to achieving a Silver Rating in the US Green Building Council's SITES Initiative…

We’re happy to share with you handouts from the Integrative SITES Workshop held on June 4, 2022 (click links below. For more information, please contact AltairEcoVillage@gmail.com.

1 -    Integrative SITES Workshop Agenda
2 -   SITES Descriptions by Section
3a- Altair Principles for Workshop
3b-  Aerial with Altair borders
4 -   Sustainable SITES
5 - Altair Brochure

Please join us Sat, June 4 at 9:00 am, in-person or on zoom . . .

Integrative SITES Workshop

• Saturday, June 4, 2022

• 9:00 AM 12:00 PM

• Location: Centennial Evangelical Lutheran Church (Luther Hall, downstairs) (map)

On Saturday morning, June 4, Altair’s site team will discuss their goals related to achieving a Silver Rating in the US Green Building Council's SITES Initiative.

This workshop will focus on Altair’s objectives and the green principles being used. The presentations will include a trained permaculturist, a bird and wildlife specialist, a certified planner, and a civil engineer. Facilitator: Adam Supplee, Landscape Architect.

Join us in-person or on zoom. (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6086109281?pwd=MVhTdjlaQTlLZlRlMUZRRG9JazR0UT09)
Light refreshments provided for those in attendance.

For more information, contact Joel Bartlett:
610-220-6172 ... altairecovillage@gmail.com

Getting It Built: What it takes to build an eco-friendly neighborhood...

We’re happy to share with you handouts from the Getting It Built Workshop held on March 5, 2022.
For more information, please contact AltairEcoVillage@gmail.com.

1 -    Getting It Built Workshop Program
2 -    Benefits to Kimberton/What is Cohousing
3 -    Press Release
4 -    Components of Sociocracy/Organizational Chart
5 -    Steps To Membership/Memorandum of Understanding
6 -    Sustainable SITES
7 -    Concept Aerial, Home Types
8 -    Milestones, Financial Timeline
9 -    Passive House/Energy, EVs
10 -  Professional Team
11 - KLID Ordinance Summary
12 - Altair Brochure

Last chance to register for the Getting It Built Workshop!

Historic Kimberton Village is located within East Pikeland Township (about 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia) in Chester County, Pennsylvania: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kimberton_Village_Historic_District

Recently the Township Supervisors (city council) adopted a Low-Impact Development Overlay ordinance for the Kimberton Village area, the first of its kind in Chester County. The amendment aims to cultivate communities that are socially engaged, environmentally sensitive, and economically diverse. This has opened the door for the development of Altair EcoVillage.

Hear all about it at the “Getting It Built” presentation this Saturday, March 5: http://www.altairecovillage.org/blog/2022/2/3/getting-it-built

Last chance to reserve your seat! (Pre-registration required before 10 pm March 1.)

Altair EcoVillage . . . Ideas toward Getting It Built

 The Altair site is located in Kimberton, PA.
https://www.altairecovillage.org/faq

The working timeline has construction starting around the beginning of next year and move-in scheduled toward the middle of 2023. It's currently projected to be primarily a 55+ community. Check out the professional team:
http://www.altairecovillage.org/team

Registration will close Feb. 28 for the "Getting It Built" presentation:
http://www.altairecovillage.org/blog/2022/2/3/getting-it-built

Goals will be:

• Leading toward Carbon neutrality

• Close to Net Zero Performance through Passive House construction

https://www.altairecovillage.org/blog/2021/8/20/blueprint-robotics-tour

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Getting It Built: What it takes to build an eco-friendly townhouse development

ALTAIR ECOVILLAGE
ANNOUNCES A PUBLIC MEETING

Saturday, March 5, 2022 – 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
in Kimberton, Pennsylvania

This project is on the leading edge of responsible, sustainable design for the future.

Featuring:

• The Cohousing concept – shared design and resources – with Mary Kraus, Cohousing Architect

• Meeting the Members and finding out how they are building their dream by dividing up the work

• Learn about the Kimberton, PA site, the timeline, the process, and the costs

• Meet the professionals and hear about their roles in making the project real

• Find out about green stormwater management, car sharing, and healthy living with safe and non-toxic materials.

WHERE: In-person or Zoom

o At Camphill School at Beaver Farm, 551 W. Seven Stars Rd, Phoenixville, PA (Beaver Farm is near the Kimberton Waldorf School.) Lunch will be provided. There will be plenty of parking. Childcare by request.
o On Zoom – Participate online (RSVP* for the Zoom link)

WHEN: Saturday, March 5th – 9:00 am to 4:30 pm EST
COST: Suggested contribution – $25 (sliding scale) to defray expenses.
INFO: altairecovillage@gmail.com / 610-220-6172

Pre-registration required by March 1. After you RSVP, we will send you a packet of information, including the workshop agenda.

RESERVE YOUR SEAT …

*ONLINE: (https://www.altairecovillage.org/fees/ticket-getting-it-built)
Or by postal mail:
Kimberton EcoVillage, PO Box 353, Kimberton, PA 19442

In an Historic Vote, East Pikeland Supervisors Adopt Eco-Friendly Development Practices

Chester County is known for many things – jobs, quality healthcare, infrastructure – but perhaps the vision that comes to mind first is its scenic natural landscapes, which play a major role in residents’ decisions to locate and remain in the county. A 2017 survey issued to Chester County residents found that 85% of respondents ranked open space and the environment as an important issue, and 42% ranked it as number one in importance. This deep-seated environmental ethos is in stark contrast to suburban sprawl development patterns that have populated the county. The status quo for housing developments for the past forty years has been subdivisions located in unwalkable areas making two- or three-car households the standard; fields and forests have been replaced with expansive lawns (otherwise known as “green concrete.”)

Kimberton Village

East Pikeland Township in northern Chester County has taken a bold step to leave the landscapes of the 20th century behind and look toward the future in terms of developing new housing. After years of effort, the Township Supervisors adopted a Low-Impact Development Overlay ordinance for the Kimberton Village area – the first of its kind in Chester County. The amendment has been adopted as part of the Township’s zoning ordinance and applies to four acre developable sites within the village. It aims to cultivate communities that are socially engaged, environmentally sensitive, and economically diverse.

At the Supervisor’s meeting in September 2020, Chairman of the Board Ron Graham expressed his support of the ordinance’s concept: “The village at one time had everything incorporated in it before zoning. People lived where they worked and where they shopped. There was a grocery store, two gas stations, a meatpacking company, a foundry, and many other things.”

As the first ordinance in Chester County advocating low-impact development practices, several of its elements are particularly unique. First, it requires low-impact developments to meet specific performance requirements in terms of building energy efficiency (using the Home Energy Rating System or HERS) and landscape vitality and efficiency (qualifying for a Silver Rating using the US Green Building Council’s Sustainable SITES initiative). A minimum of fifty percent of each development’s energy must be produced on-site by renewable sources, and developments must be designed with low-impact development practices like permeable pavement and the preservation of open space (at least 50% of the site.) Second, it allows for cooperative, sustainable living through provisions like community gardens, attached units that face one another on a pedestrian walkway, ample common space, and a community center or “club house” featuring performance, meeting spaces, and guest rooms.

The overlay also permits a mix of housing types rarely seen in other suburban ordinances, like stacked townhomes and quadruplexes, allowing for a variety of housing price points and promoting sustainable living and energy efficiency. Parking requirements are reduced from traditional suburban standards since the district is within easy walking distance of every-day destinations like a market, medical offices, and Kimberton Park. The new neighborhoods are planned to have off-road trail access to downtown Phoenixville and beyond.

Furthermore, the overlay district will provide economic benefits to Kimberton Village by allowing the construction of new units within walking distance of village businesses. Provisions for additional density in exchange for more open space and energy efficiency upgrades allow projects to be financially feasible for developers while also generating a larger customer base for local businesses, potentially spurring new businesses to open.

The passage of this Overlay District will allow the construction of the Altair EcoVillage to move forward in the heart of Kimberton, solidifying the village’s reputation as a hub for environmental consciousness. Once constructed, the EcoVillage would be the first development to be built in the village for decades. Altair is planned to be a 29-home age-restricted intentional community whose residents share values for environmental sustainability. The EcoVillage will support innovative initiatives such as a community car-share program, ongoing monitoring of its energy use, and sharing stewardship of the property’s natural landscape.

The provisions and spirit of the ordinance are consistent with Chester County’s Comprehensive Plan, Landscapes3 in its efforts to balance growth with preservation, encourage economic development, and promote environmental sustainability.

For more information contact Joel Bartlett, altairecovillage@gmail.com.